Electronic spindle for using centripetal acceleration to drive fluid movement in a microfluidics system

Abstract

This invention provides methods and apparatus for performing microanalytic and microsynthetic analyses and procedures. Specifically, the invention provides a microsystem platform for use with a micromanipulation device to manipulate the platform by rotation, thereby utilizing the centripetal force resulting from rotation of the platform to motivate fluid movement through microchannels embedded in the microplatform. The microsystem platforms of the invention are also provided having microfluidics components, resistive heating elements, temperature sensing elements, mixing structures, capillary and sacrificial valves, and methods for using these microsystems platforms for performing biological, enzymatic, immunological and chemical assays. An electronic spindle designed rotor capable of transferring electrical signals to and from the microsystem platforms of the invention is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A electronic spindle for a centrifugal rotor comprising: 
       a first electrically non-conductive plate having a first side operatively attached to a mechanical spindle and having a second side opposite thereto and having embedded therein  
       a multiplicity of electrically conductive posts having a first end that is embedded in the electrically non-conductive plate  
       an alternating array of electrically conductive and non-conductive plates having the conductive posts passing there through, wherein each of the conductive plates is in electrical contact with one of the conductive posts, and wherein none of the conductive posts is in electrical contact with more than one conductive plate, and whereby the electrically conductive plates are insulated from one another,  
       an electrically conductive plate having the conductive posts passing there through at an end of the alternating array opposite to the first electrically non-conductive plate, wherein the electronic spindle is mechanically and operatively attached to a motor comprising a centrifugation apparatus, and each of the electrically conductive posts is in electrical contact with an electrical contact on a centripetally motivated Microsystems platform, and each of the electrically conductive plates is in electrical contact with an electrically conductive brush that transfers an electrical signal from the brush to the electrically conductive plate and to one of the electrically conductive posts, and thereby transfers the electrical signal to a rotating microsystems platform.